California says no to Kosher for Passover Coke

Photo by Wikipedia/Yoninah

News that matters: California has banned Kosher for Passover Coke. That’s right, the good stuff that has real sugar in it will no longer be sold in the state. JTA reports:

Coke was required to change the way it manufactures caramel due to the high levels of the chemical 4-methylimidazole, or 4-MEI, which California has listed as a carcinogen under its new guidelines. The manufacturing changes in California affected the kosher for Passover status of the cola, according to reports.

The company expects to offer the kosher for Passover variety of Coke in California by 2013, the newspaper reported, citing the company spokesman.

Just another reminder that the Pepsi lobby is strong.

The story goes on to say that some store still have the blackmarket Passover Coke, imported from other states, though I have to imagine that selling it is still illegal.

So does this mean that I’ll no longer see the “hecho in Mexico” Coca-Cola at Target? Isn’t that the same thing? California might be able to keep real-sugar Coke out of the state, but legislators can’t deny that the corn syrup Coke is better.